Smart men learn from their mistakes. Wise men learn from the mistakes of others: A big part of playing a good game is guarding against preventible mistakes.

Stephen: If you insist that a 5 to 1 turnover ratio doesn’t matter in the NFL, you’re entitled to your opinion.

At the end of the day, it was still tied and they may have lost if the Vikings won the toss? Of course there should have never been a coin-toss!

With all due respect,what would you have written then? Never give up? Keep going even if your QB/Boss is having a tough time? Even if employee’s fumble and make mistakes keep going?

Look, I’m Canadian and I know footbal is a religion to you all in the States ( I like football, don’t get me wrong.) But any game the uses a clock is rigged. That’s why I love Baseball! And I’m a Canuck.

Actually, I was thinking about it after I wrote you yesterday. When you really think about it, with all due respect, it was not a good game to use as an analogy. How do you explain Peterson scoring 4 times? The Saints Defense Coach even admitted that they need turnovers to help them?? It was really a rare game that proved that so many of the cliche football analogies don’t really apply.

Listen, I live in Montreal with the great “Canadian’s” hockey team. With all the history and BS. Even when they had their big 100th yr anniversary celebration, all the old timer’s were saying it’s a new time, forget the past glory, focus.

But if you listen to all the commentator’s, they say they have no passion, they don’t play 60 min etc. And it’s true!

I’m 53, sports is not what it once was. I would be very careful using sports analogies!
Just a thought!

Your old school take on issues is decidedly refreshing. The analogies made in your post are exceptionally accurate.

My favorite line is: It’s about having the best business and that’s calculated in sales made, profits earned and taking money off the table (wealth, also known by the boring old word “savings.”).

Savings is what really jumped out. There are so many blogs asking the stale question, “How can I survive this recession?” The answer is by using the same skills used to survive all previous recessions. The trick to to plan for the downturn during the previous upturn. The economy runs in cycles, similar to momentum in a football game. Maximize your profits (and savings) when momentum is on your size and minimize losses when momentum is opposing you. After all, a recession is just a huge sale for people with cash and courage.

Keep up the great work, Ken. I enjoy your posts.

The Vikings lack of “fundamentals” execution is what cost them that game. The Vikings should have won by one or two touchdowns.

Let us not forget the fundamentals in business or we can easily go down in defeat as well with “no time left” to recover. A sobering thought for sure.

I don’t have a horse in this race (Giants fan), but you have to admit the Vikes got hosed on that pass interference call

That said, it demonstrates that in football, as in business and life itself, you must “score” when you have the chance and put those points on the board. Otherwise you open yourself up to questionable calls, ie. a new law, a bad economy, a price shock a ref who may be a “homer”:) And please don’t commit rookie mistakes when you’re a 19 year vet! (throwing across your body into heavy coverage).

Very happy for the people of New Orleans though. God Bless them.

Sure, the coin toss helped, but the 5 to 1 on turnovers, including Farve’s late-game interception, were devastating.

“We really gave those guys the game,” said Adrian Peterson, Minnesota running back. “Too many turnovers.”

It came down to a coin toss because the Vikings didn’t execute on Principles 1 to 3. (see above.)

Another pitfall is having the “Mother Teresa” syndrome, as some call it.

That’s trying to help all those who are needy and are maybe not in a position to help themselves.

Giving someone a position because you feel sorry for them, rather than the fact that they are capable or can contribute back to the business, is costly too.

I have done that, and it greatly weakens your business, if you’re not careful.

Marge

So I guess that’s another lesson: In Biz, you need a little luck!

Best
Stephen
** I don’t think the Saints have the horses to beat the Colts. Although I’d love to see it happen!